SO ENDED ERIN DUNMORE'S ADVERTISEMENT IN THE WALLA WALLA NEWSPAPER. UNLESS SHE FOUND A HUSBAND QUICKLY, ERIN WOULD FACE A LIFETIME OF UNWED MOTHERHOOD. SHE PRAYED DAILY THAT HER AD WOULD BE ANSWERED BY A MAN WHO COULD FULFILL HER LONG-DESIRED DREAMS OF HOME, FAMILY AND LOVE.

MACE DALTON NEEDED A WIFE, ALL RIGHT. BUT HIS SECLUDED RANCH WAS HARD ON WOMEN, AND HIS RAMBUNCTIOUS KIDS HAD DRIVEN AWAY MORE HOUSEKEEPERS THAN HE COULD COUNT. A WIFE WOULD BE BOUND TO HIM BY LAW--HIS LAW. FOR MACE HAD ENOUGH OF HOME AND FAMILY, AND LOVE WAS SOMETHING STRICTLY FROM THE PAST....